Flood-gate



(No Model.) G. W. PRANCIS.

PLOOD GATE.

Patented Feb; 27, 1 883.

LN' VEJV'TOR.

. WITNESSES.

NITED STATES GEORGE FRANCIS, OF SHELBYVILLE, INDIANA.

FLOOD-GATE.

SPECIFICATION formng part of Letters Patent No. 272,872, dated February 27, 1883.

Application filed September 18, 1882.

To all whom it may conoe r n:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. Fmnos, of the town of Shelbyville, county of Shelby, and State ot' Indiana, have invented certain new and`useful Improvements in Flood-Gates, of which the following is a specification.

The object ot' my said invention is to -pro-` duce a gate or fence for use in fencing across creeks, rivers, &c., which shall be permanent and dui-able, and also capable of adjustment to suit the varying height of the water. This object is accomplished by planting mudsills in the banks at about low-water mark, setting posts therein, providing the same with slides, monnting a gate or section of fence in said slides, and providing means whereby said fenoe can be elevated or lowered in said slides, as will liereinafter be more particularly set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereot', and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure l is a side elevation of a section of fence embodying my invention; Fig. 2, 'a top plan of the same Figs. 3 and 4, elevations, respectively, of the two ends, and Fig. 5 a View of a lever which may be used in raising -the fence.

ln said drawings, the portions marked A represent the mud-sills on which my improved fence is mounted; B, the posts; C, the wires of the gate or fence; D, ropes or -cords by which the fence may be elevated, and E a hook-lever which may be used for the same purpose.

'The mud-sills A are planted in the banks of the stream at about low-water mark, and are extended back into the bank far enough to insure that they remain firmly and securely in position. y

The posts B are four in number-two at each endand are firmly secured to the mud-sills'. Braces B' are placed upon the inside ofthese posts, as shown, to prevent said posts iron being drawn toward each other by the fence, or guys are attached to the top of the posts and extended back to an anchoring. In case of Very high posts, which would be used in cases where the rise and fall of the water in the stream is consider-able, the guys will probably be found preferable, and in' some cases both guys and braces may be found desirable. The space between the two posts at each end (No mode .i

is sufficient to allow'the wires of which the fence is preferahly composed to pass freel y between them'. Upon the outer side of each post is seoured a strip, B Said strips, with the faces of the posts, form slides in which the stiles c of the fence slide.

The gate or fence is composed of a stile, c, at each end, and wires or rails C connecting them, and is adapted to be elevated or depressed, and thus be kept in sufficiently close proxiinity to the water at all times, notwitlstanding its varying height, without being at any time immersed therein. Anti -friction trucks may be placed under these stiles, if desired, which will enable the fence to be raised more easily than it otherwise could. i

The ropes or cords D are attached to the stiles 0, and pass, one over sheavesb and the other directly to the spool D', which is mounted in brackets B on the posts B. As will be readily seen, a turning of the crank d' of said spool will wind up or unwind the cords D, and 'thus elevate the fence or allow it to descend, thus adjnsting it to the desired position. The lever E forms another and in some cases a more desirable (because cheaper) means of raising the gare. It is provided with a hook, e, which eniers holes l in the posts or strips, (see Figs. 3 and 4,) while its lower end engages under the lower ends of the stiles'c, which, with the renainder of the fence, may thus be raised successively from one point to another. This may be regarded as an alternate means of raising the gate when said gate is conparatively short and light; but in the longer and heavier gates it is properly a supplemental device, as the work ot' raising such gates is heavier than can be well accoinplished by the ropes and winding mechauism. I v

The t'ence,'whe` raised, may be secured in position by any ordinary pawls or other engaging devices; but the friction of the stiles on the slides will be usually found sufficient without other fastening, unless anti-frictiou trucks are employed.

The operation of my said inven'tion may he briefiy recapitulated as follows: The nnd-sills and posts are placed in position, the gate (pret erably composed of a stile, c, at each end and wires G counecting them, as shown) is mounted thereon, and adjusted to the proper distauce above the water. When the water rises,

IOO

:s is often the case, the gate is raised until it oeenpies the same relative position thereto as before; and when the wzterfails the gate is iowered eorrespondingly. The gate proper, being preferabiy eonstrueted of Wire or other small material, Will ofi'er little resistanee to the water in ease of a temporary sndden rise, When the gate cannot be con venientiy atij Listed soon enough to keep it theref'rom.

Having thus fully described my said invention, What Iclaim' as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The eonbination of e flood-gate consisting of stiies e and eo'neeting-Wires G, posts B, having slides, in whieh said stiles rest and are adapted to slide vertiezlly, and the described means, eonsisting of the ropes I), sheaves I),

GEORGE W'. FRANGIS.

In presence of G. BRADFORD, .E. W. BRADFORD. 

